Correlation of Long-Term Storage and Accelerated Stability Tests

Three-year outdoor bottle and column storage tests described in ASTM STP 531 have been completed on four Navy distillate fuels. The total insolubles were linear functions of the time in storage in both the bottle tests and in the accelerated 43.3°C (110°F) beaker tests. About the same amount of new total insolubles formed in one week of beaker storage as formed in one month of bottle storage at an effective temperature of 19°C (67°F). The stability ranking of the four fuels was essentially the same regardless of which test was used and regardless of whether total insolubles or the rate at which additional insolubles were formed was used as the basis of the ranking. The geographic location for outdoor bottle tests was an important factor and was probably related to the average annual temperature at the location.